This Wabamun Lake spill could be a HUGE environmental disaster

[jim3775]

if it turns out that Imperial Oil and CN lied and a toxic carcinogen spilled.

CBC News

Minister angry that carcinogen may have leaked into lake
Last Updated Tue, 09 Aug 2005 21:48:13 EDT
Alberta's environment minister says CN Rail will face "the full extent of the law" if the company turns out to have misled officials by neglecting to report that a cancer-linked chemical spilled during a derailment last week.

"I'm damn well pissed off," Guy Boutilier said Tuesday.

Thick oil, which may contain a chemical linked to cancer, covers much of Wabamun Lake west of Edmonton.

"I call it an ecological disaster, and we are going to bring to the full extent of the law anyone who has breached Alberta law."

Almost a week after a CN train spilled heavy oil into Lake Wabamun, west of Edmonton, people living nearby were warned late Monday that they shouldn't drink or touch the water because a hazardous substance linked to skin cancer may have leaked from the cars.

By that time, many residents had spent days wading into the lake to rescue birds whose feathers were fouled by the oil that formed a large slick on the water's surface.

(snip)

[CHIMO]

1. Not Good

But your reference to an oil company is not found in the article. Could you provide the reference for that.

Thanks

[jim3775]

3. The refrence came from an interview with the

Alberta environment minister on CBC yesterday, he said that Imperial oil had not disclosed the fact that a toxic utility pole preserver might have spilled.

The story has changed since yesterday.

From the Edmonton Sun

Link

CN had chemical info
But it wasn't passed on until days after mishap

By MAX MAUDIE, EDMONTON SUN

WABAMUN -- A CN official yesterday acknowledged the company had complete information on the potentially cancerous chemical that spilled after a train derailed near Wabamun - and that CN contacted the chemical's producer about it the next day, four days before telling the Alberta government.

"Complete information was available," said CN spokesman Jim Feeny. "Who had it, who got it, and when everybody got it is under discussion."

As for reports that CN contacted Imperial Oil the day after the spill, looking for a material safety data sheet on the pole-treating oil: "We're not disputing that. That's correct," Feeny said.

[CHIMO]

5. Thanks

For the follow-up information.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. ummm - material safety data sheets - tell you how to HANDLE the product

.
.
.

Wouldn't ya think that one should read that document BEFORE you "handle" the product, not AFTER ya "handled" it, and badly at that seein as ya dumped it into a water source???

Oh yeah - CN is new at this -

Ya right . . .

Environment group calls on Ottawa to charge CN after two toxic spills

/snip/


Imperial Oil spokesman Pius Rolheiser said CN asked Imperial last Thursday - after the derailment - for a material safety data sheet on its pole-treating oil, which the company provided that day.

The sheet provides information on a substance and procedures for handling it that's especially useful in the event of a spill or accident.

/snip/

CN formally acknowledged Tuesday that one of the derailed train cars contained chemicals that were not listed on the cargo manifest. CN originally reported that one of the leaking tankers contained lube oil.

___________________________________________________________

not listed on the cargo manifest??

I suppose this is a RARE occurence when it comes to toxins . :shrug:

how many shares of CN belong to the BFEE me wonders . . .

hmmmm

[achtung_circus]

2. Wabamum has been in trouble for a while.

including drastic lowering of water levels primarily due to lake water being used for cooling the power plants.

Carcinogens is another nail.

[Spazito]

4. It sure does look like a major disaster for sure

I hope "CN Rail will face "the full extent of the law" for this. It is appalling that they did not inform the government and the residents of the danger immediately.

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. We just talked to my father-in-law....

the other day. He and my mother-in-law live up on the other side of the highway from the lake.

He was out the other day trying to help with the cleanup. This is so sad. I love the lake.

FSC